Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
1,615.00 ft (492.25 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
8.70 mi (14.00 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The Siouxon Creek Trail is one of the best year-round hikes in the Portland area.  During the rainy winter months this low-elevation getaway provides a splendid display of a temperate old-growth forest.  Extensive stands of Douglas fir tower over the giant stumps of western red cedar that used to dominate the forest.  During the intense heat of August and September, the creek provides a string of deep, crystal-clear swimming holes.  Backcountry campsites make the trail an ideal place to overnight.  The many falls along the trail are beautiful in any season, including the broad, 50-foot Chinook Falls and the 100-foot Wildcat Falls that plummets from a basalt cliff.

For a longer hike, make the 10.4 mile, 2,100-foot climb up to Horseshoe Ridge.  The 14.5 mile, 2,800-foot climb to Huffman or Siouxon Peak provides spectacular views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Adams, and Mount Rainier.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

NW Forest Pass

Pros

Four waterfalls. Old-growth forest. Swimming holes. Backcountry campsites.

Cons

Campsites are heavily shaded and often damp.

Trailhead Elevation

1,320.00 ft (402.34 m)

Features

Backcountry camping
Waterfalls
Old-growth forest

Typically multi-day

No

Suitable for

Biking

Location

Nearby Adventures

Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington
Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington
Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington
Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington
Southwest Washington/Mount St. Helens, Washington

Comments

01/19/2019
This was a great hike for winter! We did not make it to Wildcat Falls as you had to cross the stream but the other waterfalls were fantastic!
07/28/2018
Quite a lovely, yet crowded, little creekside hike with a multitude of swimming holes and campsites - ideal for a summer weekday overnighter!
07/28/2018
A refreshing hike for a hot day! Take your time on 5701 as there are plenty of potholes and other road obstacles. We arrived at 8am for a day hike, and the lot was already full, presumably from overnight campers. The trail itself is well maintained all the way to Chinook Falls with two sturdy, relatively new bridges (if you count the side trip to Wildcat Falls). Personally, I'd rate this as an easy hike, but 9-10 miles may not be everyone's idea of "easy". Quality of the trail is good with little incline. No thigh-burners here. Lots of shade, beautiful views of the creek, four lovely falls, and great campsites if you arrive early enough on a Friday. In summer, you'll probably see more people arriving after 11am just to access the many swimming holes.
Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.